An upper level storm system moving across Oklahoma and Arkansas, and cold arctic air spilling south into the area, resulted in another major winter storm across eastern Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas during the night of February 8th and the morning of February 9th. While this storm system was not as strong as the one the week before, strong frontogenetic forcing led to a narrow band of intense snowfall that remained nearly stationary for several hours near a Ponca City to Chelsea to Fayetteville line. Snowfall amounts within this band ranged from 12 to 18 inches in the western part of the band to 18 to 25 inches in the eastern part of the band. Outside of the intense snow band, snow amounts from 4 to 8 inches were widespread north of a McAlester to Poteau line, with 1 to 4 inches to the south in far southeast Oklahoma. Some sleet also briefly fell as the precipitation began in far southeast Oklahoma. Some blowing and drifting of snow also occurred, but winds were not as strong as they were with the system the previous week, and blizzard criteria was not met with this storm.

Record cold temperatures also occurred on the on the morning of February 10th as an arctic high pressure system built into Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas in the wake of the winter storm. Bartlesville, Oklahoma set their all time record low with a reading of -28°F. Tulsa had a record low of -12°F. Fayetteville, Arkansas set a record with a low of -18°F. Mc Alester, Oklahoma also set a record low with a reading of -4°F.

Two new state records were set in northeast Oklahoma during this winter weather event. Click here to read the Media Advisory.

New Oklahoma All-Time Record 24-hour Snowfall:
27" in Spavinaw, OK February 9, 2011 (previous record 26" in Woodward and Freedom March 28, 2009)

New Oklahoma All-Time Record Minimum Temperature:
-31°F in Nowata, OK February 10, 2011(previous record -27°F in Vinita February 13, 1905, Watts January 18, 1930, and Guthrie January 4, 1947)

Tulsa Snowfall Records Set: (see below for Top 5 lists):

5.7" of storm total snow February 8-9, 2011

26.1" of snow this cold season through Feb. 9, 2011 Ranks as the number 1 snowiest cold season on record as of 2/09/2011

26.1" of snow this year through Feb. 9, 2011 Ties as 2nd snowiest year on record as of 2/09/2011

22.5" of snow this February through Feb. 9, 2011 Ranks as the number 1 snowiest February on record as of 2/09/2011 Ranks as the number 1 snowiest Month on record as of 2/09/2011

Period of Record for Tulsa Snowfall Top 5 Lists is January 1900 - February 10, 2011

Top 5 Two-Day Snowfall Records for Tulsa, Oklahoma

1.

14.0"

January 31 - February 1, 2011

2.

12.9"

March 8-9, 1994

3.

11.5"

March 20, 1924

3.

11.5"

January 8-9, 1920

5.

10.7"

November 30 - December 1, 2005

Note: Many large snowfalls cross the calendar day, which is why a two day period is used. Records listed above with only one date occurred within the calendar day. Period of record: January 1900 - February 1, 2011